Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) has welcomed the first group of residents into its new affordable housing development at Edinburgh’s waterfront.

The block of 102 homes at Newhaven Place at Western Harbour, by the Asda supermarket, in Western Harbour, Newhaven is due to be fully occupied by June 2010.

The development includes environmentally sustainable and energy efficient features such as a ground source heating system and under-floor heating for the ground-floor homes.

Eight units are specially designed to accommodate disabled residents and there are a number of three and four bedroom homes specifically designed for families.

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This is the first of four proposed affordable housing sites at Western Harbour. Work on a second site is currently underway by PoLHA.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive at PoLHA, said: "This is a significant development for PoLHA as it marks a move for us from building in the existing Leith to also building homes on the waterfront at Western Harbour. By the summer, over 100 households will be living here in environmentally sustainable, yet affordable homes.

"Our first development at Western Harbour forms part of our vision for this new community and is an important part of the overall regeneration masterplan for the area.

"It is the living embodiment of our commitment to developing vibrant and sustainable communities in homes people want to live."

This is the second development opened recently by the Association, it recently welcomed 14 households to a new-build block of flats on Buchanan Street, Leith, which was previously a gap site for a number of years.

Over the next five years, with its development partners, PoLHA aims to provide a further 500 homes to help meet the urgent and growing demand for affordable housing in Edinburgh.

(GK/BMcC)